Blitz’s Week 9 Power Poll

On the eve of the final Friday of the regular season, Blitz is ready to unveil another edition of his power poll.

Much like the last few weeks, there has not been much movement. The elite have separated themselves, while the good teams have dug in towards the bottom half of the top 10.

Let’s take a look at who is where in Week 9.

1. HOMESTEAD (8-0)

WHY #1?

Homestead did not miss much of a beat last Friday without Braeden Hardwick, with Ryan Burton stepping in admirably at running back in a 24-0 victory.

The Victory Bell is now in the hands of the Spartans for the first time ever. Can Coach Chad Zolman’s team finish the regular season a perfect 9-0 for the first time since 2012? A home game with South Side remains the lone obstacle.

WHY NOT HIGHER?

Believe Blitz, if he could rank Homestead higher, he would.

2. BISHOP DWENGER (7-1)

WHY #2?

In typical Dwenger fashion, the Saints grinded out an ugly win over Snider at Spuller Stadium last week. It isn’t flashy or awe-inspiring, but hey, what the Saints do works.

Let’s talk defense, with Bishop Dwenger holding Snider to single digits in points in a conference game for just the second time since 2010. Could that unit be the key to another run to state?

WHY NOT HIGHER?

The 17-15 loss to Homestead in Week 4 is the most logical reason ever to have the Saints ranked behind the team that beat them.

3. EAST NOBLE (8-0)

WHY #3?

The Knights railroaded another NE8 opponent last Friday, dispatching of New Haven 56-8 on a chilly night.

East Noble has now held five straight opponents to single digits in points for the first time since 1987 when the Knights had six straight games of keeping teams under 10 points.

WHY NOT HIGHER?

Sit Blitz down and debate this with him. Please, he finds it intriguing and could be valid.

4. SNIDER (6-2)

WHY #4?

That is two regular-season losses for the Panthers in each of the past two years. Ohmigosh, what is going on with Snider!?

Get real. Snider is fine. A close loss to Bishop Dwenger is nothing to be disappointed about. The Panthers have an opportunity to get right at Bishop Luers on Friday. Then in two weeks, a rematch with Carroll. What’s not to like?

WHY NOT HIGHER?

A two-loss Snider team could make a case to be No. 3 in this power poll. It could be a valid argument. But Blitz likes variety and thinks East Noble has played itself into the top three this year.

5. CARROLL (5-3)

WHY #5?

Even without quarterback Jeffrey Becker in Week 8, the Chargers were able to dispatch of Concordia in a 16-0 shutout.

Coach Doug Dinan’s team gets Wayne this Friday in a final post-season tune up. Blitz is fascinated to see the rematch between Carroll and Snider, which will happen on Nov. 1 due to the bye week. That was a one-point game and Carroll has looked solid against everyone not named Homestead.

WHY NOT HIGHER?

The three losses are to Snider, Bishop Dwenger and Homestead. That pretty much backs up this positioning.

6. DEKALB (7-1)

WHY #6?

Make it four straight dubs since a lopsided loss to East Noble in Week 4. Other than a sluggish first half against Norwell, DeKalb has played some pretty good football during the stretch of victories.

Will it continue against Leo in Week 9? This is a big one with league foe Columbia City looming in the first round of sectional, with the first game between the two being decided by three points.

WHY NOT HIGHER?

If DeKalb beats Leo, could it jump in this poll? Anything is possible. The loss is not a bad one, but the wins aren’t enough to put the Barons above a couple SAC schools.

7. SOUTH ADAMS (8-0)

WHY #7?

Is South Adams underrated in Class 1A? It is No. 2 behind Lutheran, but Blitz feels the Starfires deserve to be tops in the state. Of course, all will be decided starting in just a week’s time.

South Adams got a reality check of sorts by being held scoreless in the first half at Woodlan last week. It was the perfect remedy for any bouts of complacency setting in.

WHY NOT HIGHER?

Blitz just can’t pull the trigger on putting South Adams any higher on this list. The resume is just not powerful enough in terms of elite-level wins.

8. LEO (7-1)

WHY #8

The Lions have taken some angst out on Bellmont, Huntington North and Columbia City in recent weeks after losing to East Noble. Collectively, Leo has won by a combined 104 points over three games.

A tougher test looms this week against DeKalb, followed by an intriguing matchup to open sectional play against Angola.

WHY NOT HIGHER?

At the very least, Leo will jump DeKalb in this poll with a win on Friday. With a loss, Blitz will just be proven right…again.

9. WEST NOBLE (8-0)

WHY #9?

Traveling to Turtle Town to take on Churubusco looked a tad scary on paper, but the Chargers took care of business with a 33-20 victory last Friday.

Jake Fulk had room to run for ‘Busco, but Brandon Pruitt matched him and then some on the ground, bruising opposing tacklers all night.

The Chargers get Prairie Heights this week before going to a decent Glenn program to open the postseason, a team that beat six-win South Bend Washington a few weeks ago.

WHY NOT HIGHER?

The schedule leaves a lot to be desired, through no fault of their own. Similar to South Adams, it is tough to know how West Noble measures up with the best of the rest of the area without any head-to-head showdowns.

10. NORTH SIDE (4-4)

WHY #10?

A convincing 19-point victory over Northrop last Friday has the Legends jumping up into the top 10 of this poll for the first time since the season opened.

Duce Taylor has been the catalyst and is 4-0 as the starter. However, he has had plenty of help, and the competition in his wins has been more to North’s level compared to the losses (Snider, Homestead, Bishop Dwenger, Carroll).

North can secure its first winning regular season since 2013 with a win at Concordia on Friday.

WHY NOT HIGHER?

The Legends are a significant step below the “big 4” in the SAC and could very well be underdogs against every team above them on this power poll. Blitz needs to see more.

NEXT FIVE

11. ADAMS CENTRAL

12. NORTHROP

13. EASTSIDE

14. NEW HAVEN

15. ANGOLA